Strainer apparatus



March 15, 1966 A. w. SERIO 3,240,348

STRAINER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTOR. Anthony W.Ser i0 March 15, 1966 A. w. SERIO STRAINER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1963 ATTORNEYS United States Patent of Ohio Filed Feb. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 258,103 2 Claims. (Cl. 210-469) The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 788,081, filed January 21, 1959, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a new and novel strainer device or apparatus, and more particularly to a device which is adapted to be clamped about the open end of a container for preventing solid particles from passing outwardly therefrom when the container is inverted.

The present invention may be generically termed a strainer apparatus since the various forms of the invention are utilized with open-ended containers to prevent solid particles from passing outwardly of the container while permitting fluids within the containers to be poured therefrom.

Such strainers are in common use with kitchen utensils, for example, wherein it is desired to pour out fluids from the utensils while preventing the large particles from being poured from the container. In addition, such a strainer device may be employed, for example, with containers containing iced beverages wherein ice cubes or pieces of fruit and the like may be within the container. The strainer device according to the present invention effectively prevents these large particles from passing out of the container, and yet permits the fluid to be efliciently poured from the container.

Numerous strainer devices have been employed for many years for similar purposes, but the prior art structures for this purpose have proved to be disadvantageous for various reasons. It is highly desirable to provide a strainer device which is adapted to fit different sized containers such that it is not limited for use with any particular container, but may be used with containers of similar, but varying shapes and sizes. Devices have been developed for fitting different sized containers, but the structure employed with such adjustable devices has been excessively complex and bulky in construction, and has added considerably to the cost of the devices.

In the arrangement according to the present invention, these difficulties have been overcome by providing a very simple and compact structure which effectively permits the device to be used with different sized containers, and yet which at the same time provides a very simple and sturdy arrangement which reduces the cost to a minimum.

The strainer apparatus according to the present invention comprises a single unitary piece of sheet material shaped to define a specially constructed body member. By forming the device of a single sheet of material, the device may be efficiently manufactured as by stamping process, and yet a very study construction is provided which is not susceptible to damage during use.

The body member according to the present invention incorporates a main body portion which comprises a major area of the body member and a leg portion which comprises a minor area of the body member, the leg portion extending laterally from the main body portion. The main body portion is provided with a pair of spaced finger projections at the outer edge thereof, these finger projections extending generally normally therefrom, the finger projections defining an acute angle of slightly less than 90 with the under side of the main body portion. The leg portion is provided with a terminal finger projection,

this latter projection cooperating with the previously de- 3,24%,348 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 "ice scribed pair of projections for retaining the device in operative position about the open end of the container. The three above-described fingers are preferably spaced substantially equidistantly from one another to provide a three-point engagement for retaining the strainer apparatus in operative position, or in other words, the three projections lie approximately at the corners of an equilateral triangle.

An important feature of the present invention is the fact that the body member is constructed of a resilient, flexible material such as thin metallic sheet material which may comprise aluminum, for example. The body member is dish-shaped or crowned such that it has a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration, the summit of this arcuate configuration being positioned at approximately the central portion of the body member. The body memher is truly domed in the respect that it defines a continuous are from the forward edge thereof to the rearmost portion of the leg portion as well as defining a continuous are from one side edge to the other of the main body portion.

This particular construction in cooperation with the resilient and flexible characteristics of the material of the body member perform an important function in that by pressing downwardly upon the central portion of the body member when it is mounted on the container, thereby flattening the body member, the device is adapted to expand to a certain degree thereby enabling the apparatus to fit upon containers of varying size. It is accordingly apparent that the apparatus is adapted to fit a container having a rim portion substantially equal to the normal spacing of the projections on the body member and is also adapted to fit containers having an upper rim portion of greater dimensions than the normal spacing of the projections on the body member by flattening out the body member.

The dome-shaped configuration as discussed above permits the body member to be expanded by downward pressure thereby particularly facilitating mounting of the strainer apparatus on a container by first hooking the projections on the main body portion over the container and then simultaneously pressing down on the central portion of the strainer apparatus and pulling on the terminal end of the leg portion to snap the finger projection at the end of the leg portion into operative position. The arrangement of the present invention is particularly adapted to cooperate with containers having downwardly and inwardly sloping side surfaces whereby the downwardly and inwardly extending finger projections are adapted to cooperate with such surfaces of the container to provide a very effective means for retaining the strainer apparatus in its operative position and for preventing accidental release thereof.

A particularly significant feature of the intercooperation of the dome-shaped configuration as well as the fact that the finger projections each extend downwardly and inwardly from the concave or under side of the body member, is the fact that pressure applied to the bottom or under surface of the strainer which may occur when pouring the contents from the container wherein solid particles may engage the under surface of the strainer, tends to actually cause the strainer to more firmly grip the container. In other words, pressure from the under side of the strainer in a direction away from the container tends to hold the strainer even more tightly to the container since :it tends to pull all of the finger projections even tighter against the outer side walls of the associated container.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel strainer apparatus which is adapted to clamp upon the open end of a container and which, when in operative position, effectively prevents large solids from leaving the container.

Another object is to provide a strainer apparatus which is adapted to fit containers having diflerent sized upper rim portions about which the device is adapted to fit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a strainer apparatus which is effectively locked in operative position so as not to fall ofi when the associated container is inverted to pour fluids therefrom.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a strainer apparatus which is very simple and inexpen-, sive in construction, and yet which is sturdy and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View illustrating one embodiment of the apparatus in operative position about the upper end portion of the container;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the strainer device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a modified form of the strainer apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 4;

'FIG. 6 is a top perspective view illustrating a further modified form of the invention as applied to a container;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the ar rows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the strainer device shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. l3 wherein a body member is indicated generally by reference numeral 10, the body member being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as mounted upon the upper open end of a container 11 such as a pitcher having an upper rim 12 at the top portion thereof, a spout 13 being formed at one edge portion of the rim. As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the upper Portion of the con tainer wall flares outwardly beneath rim portion 12 thereby defining a downwardly and inwardly tapered surface immediately below the rim.

Body member 10 includes a main body portion 29 and a leg portion 21 which extends laterally from body portion and extends substantially perpendicular to the major width dimension of the main body portion, it being clearly understood that body member 10 is formed of a single unitary piece of material. Body portion 20 comprises a major area of the body member, and the leg portion 21 comprises a minor area of the leg portion, main body portion 20 having substantially the shape of a sector of a circle, the leg portion extending from the area at which the apex of the sector-shaped portion 20 would appear.

The sector-shaped main body portion 20 is provided with a long forward arcuate front edge or outer periphery 25 which joins short rounded side edge portions formed at the maximum width dimension of the main body portion, these side edge portions in turn merging with tapered back edges which flow into the substantially parallel side edges of the leg pOrtion 21. A pair of spaced similar finger projections 26 extend downwardly from the concave underside of the main body portion along the forward edge 25. Each of the finger projections 26 is connected to the main body portion by a curved portion 27 and includes a downwardly extending portion 28 which is generally normal to the portion of the body member from which the projection extends and defines an acute angle of slightly less than 90 with the under side or concave surface of the main body portion such that the finger projections 26 extend downwardly and inwardly when in use on the upper open end of the container. As seen in FIG. 1, the pair of finger projections 26 are adapted to engage the rim on either side of the spout, the construction being such that the inner surface of the curved portion 27 norm-ally engages the adjacent rim portions, the downwardly projecting portions 26 preventing the main body portion 20 from becoming detached from the container when the container is inverted.

The outer end portion of leg portion 21 has formed integral therewith a finger projection 30 which is connected with the leg portion by a curved portion 31, projection 30 extending substantially normally to the end portion of the leg portion, projection 30 preferably having an enlarged flared end portion 31 about which a suitable heat insulating material 32 such as plastic may be mounted for permitting this end portion to be grasped in the fingers without harming the fingers when the device is heated through use with hot fluids and the like.

The two finger projections 26 and finger projection 30 are spaced substantially equidistantly from one another to provide a three-point engagement between the strainer device and the container.

Finger projection 30 includes an arcuate portion 35 which has a summit point 36, the summit point being nearer to the main body portion than the remaining portions of projection 31 to engage the lip of the container, and maintains the leg portion securely clamped to the container.

As seen in both FIGS. 2 and 3, the over-all body member including the main body portion and the leg portion is dished or crowned such that it has a substantially arcuate cross-sectional configuration, the summit of the arcuately configured body member being positioned at substantially the central portion of the body member, or at a point in the general area adjacent the interconnection of the main body portion and the leg portion. The over-all body member is actually domed such that it defines a continuous are from the forward edge 25 thereof to the outer end portion of leg portion 21 as well as defining a continuous arc from one side edge thereof as well as between the most widely spaced points on the side edge thereof or in other words across the maximum width dimension of the main body portion. As pointed out previously, this particular arrangement is important since the body member is formed of a resilient material such that it can be deformed when placed upon a container.

It is evident from FIG. 1 that the device is clamped upon the open end of a container by means of the three spaced projections extending from the main body portion of the leg portion. The resilient dome-shaped configuration of the body member is such that the projections will be resiliently retained in contact with the rim of the associated container. It is evident that when it is desired to place the device upon a container of slightly greater dimension than that illustrated, the two projections 26 may be hooked over the rim of the container, and pressure may be applied to the central portion of the body member for flattening the body member to increase the spring between projection 30 on the leg portion and the projections 26 on the main body portion to enable the device to be securely clamped upon such a container. In this manner, the device is enabled to efficiently clamp upon the rim of containers of varying size, this being particularly important even when the device is designed to be used with a certain container, since these containers will ordinarily have rims of varying diameter due to variances produced in common manufacturing processes.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modification of the device is illustrated wherein a body member indicated generally by reference numeral 40 includes a main body portion 41 and a leg portion 42 integral therewith and extends laterally therefrom. As in the first modification, the main body portion includes a long arcuate front or forward edge 46 which in turn joins with short rounded side edges at the maximum width dimension of the main body portion, these side edge portions in turn tapering rearwardly to the substantially parallel side edges of the leg portion. The leg portion also extends substantially perpendicular to the major width dimension of the main body portion. This device is illustrated as being employed with a container 45 having a generally square configuration with rounded sides, the main body portion 41 having an outer edge 46 which substantially conforms to the configuration of the rim of the container. A pair of finger projections 50 extend downwardly from edge portion 46 and operate in a manner similar to that of finger projections 26 of the device shown in FIGS. 13, finger projections 50 being adapted to engage opposite side portions of the container.

Main body portion 41 is provided with a plurality of suitable openings 55 therethrough, opening 55 being designed to permit fluid to flow through this portion, and yet preventing large solid particles from passing therethrough, the main body portion thereby effectively preventing solids from leaving the container.

The outer end portion of leg portion 42 is provided with a downwardly extending finger projection 60 which extends generally normally to the associated leg portion and includes a rounded upper portion 61, a downwardly extending portion 62, and an outer enlarged flared portion 63 having a suitable heat insulating substance 64 such as plastic formed on the outer surface thereof to facilitate grasping of the device when it is heated. The curved portion 61 of finger projection 60 is adapted to engage the upper edge or rim portion of the container, the remaining downwardly extending portion of the finger projection serving to prevent the projection from slipping inadvertently upwardly of the associated rim, thereby retaining the device firmly in operative position. The finger projections 50 and 60 are spaced substantially equidistantly from one another as in the previous modification to obtain a uniform gripping effect on the associated container.

Referring most particularly to FIG. 5 of the drawing, the dotted line 70 indicates the normal configuration of this particular modification of the invention, it being noted that the body member 40 as indicated by dotted line 70 also has a dish-shaped or crowned configuration such that it is provided with a substantially arcuate crosssectional configuration. Here again, the body member is dome-shaped such that it defines a substantially continuous are from the forward edge of the main body portion to the rear portion of the leg portion 42, as well as defining a continuous are between the rounded side edges of the main body portion at the maximum width dimension of the main body portion. This construction as described previously in cooperation with the resilient and flexible characteristics of the body member permits the device to be mounted upon containers of varying size.

It is evident that after the device as seen in FIG. 5 in the dotted lines is initially placed on the container, it may be sprung into operative position applying a downward pressure on the upper surface thereof to move the finger projection 60 over the rim of the container, thereby flattening the body member to any degree necessary in order to enable it to fit on the container. The summit of the arcuate configuration of the body member 40 also lies at the central portion of the body member which as seen in FIG. 4 would be in the general area adjacent the point where the leg portion 42 intersects the main body portion 41 such that downward pressure on the central portion of the body member causes the body member to flatten out and increases the distance between the finger projections 60 and the main body portion.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 9 inclusive of the drawings, there is illustrated a further modified embodiment of the invention, and as seen particularly in FIG. 6, a container 75 similar to the container 45 is illustrated 6 having a generally square configuration with rounded sides, the side walls 76 of the container sloping downwardly and inwardly as seen for example in FIG. 7 and as indicated by reference numerals 7 6.

The strainer device is indicated generally by reference numeral 80 and includes a main body portion 81 and a leg portion 82. As in the previous modifications, the main body portion 81 comprises a major area of the strainer device, while the leg portion comprises a minor area thereof. It will be observed that the leg portion 82 also extends substantially normally to the major width dimension of the main body portion 81.

As in the modification shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main body portion is substantially sector-shaped being provided with a long arcuate front or forward edge 85 which merges at short rounded side edges 86 which in turn join the tapered side edges 87 which flow into the substantially parallel side edges 88 of the leg portion.

Formed along the front edge 85 are a pair of spaced depending finger projections 90 which extend from the concave side of the strainer device and which are generally normal to the main body portion but which actually define an acute angle of slightly less than 90 with respect to the concave side of the strainer device. As in the previous modification, and as will be seen most clearly from an inspection of FIGS. 7 and 8, the over-all strainer device is again substantially dome-shaped and defines a continuous are from the front edge of the device to the rear portion of the leg portion 82 as well as defining a continuous arc across the major width of the main body portion, or in other words between the opposite side edge portions 86.

Formed in the main body portion 81 at the forward edge 85 thereof are a plurality of embossments or projections 93 which extend downwardly from the concave side of the main body portion, these embossments being shown as being three in number, it being apparent that any suitable number may be employed as required. The undersurfaces of these embossments are adapted to engage the upper edge of the associated side wall of the container upon which the strainer device is mounted for spacing the under side or concave side of the main body portion a slight distance from the upper edge of the container. This will allow fluids to pass between the upper edge of the container and the forward edge of the strainer device when pouring the contents of the container therefrom. A plurality of spaced holes 95 are also provided through the main body portion to allow fluid to freely flow from the container while at the same time preventing the passage of large solid particles therefrom.

Formed at the outer end of the leg portion 82 is a finger projection indicated generally by reference numeral and including a first portion 102 which extends downwardly and inwardly from a concave or under side of the strainer device and generally normally therefrom, actually defining an acute angle of slightly less than 90 with respect to the under side of the strainer device.

Downwardly and inwardly extending portion 102 joins with an arcuate portion 103 which in turn joins with a second or terminal portion 105 of the leg portion which extends upwardly and outwardly at an obtuse angle to the convex or upper side of the adjacent portion of the leg portion 82 whichris disposed in operative position in overlying relationship to a top edge of an associated container as seen for example in FIG. 7.

A relatively wide piece of heat insulating material 107 is secured to the outer end of portion 105 to protect a persons fingers when manually handling the strainer device with hot or cold substances. The heat insulating means 107 may, of course, be made from one or two sections as desired for ease of manufacture. The insulating means may be retained in place by any suitable means such as a rivet 109.

The provision of the upwardly and outwardly extending portion 105 at the terminal end of the leg portion in the modification shown in FIGS. 6-8 along with its associated insulating means affords a marked improvement over the means provided at the terminal end of the leg portion of the modification shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

With the arrangement and positioning of the manually graspable portion in the modification shown in FIGS. 6-9 inclusive, the strainer device may be mounted in operative position and removed therefrom with much more facility than in the aforedescribed modifications. The insulating portion as seen in this latter described modification enables a person to place his thumb on the upwardly facing surface as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 and to place two fingers on the downwardly facing surface of the insulating portion as seen in these figures, which provides good leverage for either pulling the strainer device and snapping it into operative position or for snapping it back out of operative position when it is desired to remove the strainer.

Again referring to FIG. 7, the phantom line position illustrates the strainer device in its position which it will normally assume when placed on the container ready for mounting thereon. The finger projections 90 have been placed up against the side of the container, and it is then necessary to snap the strainer device into its final operative position. This may be accomplished by grasping the insulating portion 107 as aforedescribed and applying downward and outward pressure thereto which is facilitated by the angular position thereof.

In addition, a slight downward pressure on the central portion of the strainer device will assist in spreading the finger projections as aforedescribed since the summit of the dome-shaped configuration is approximately at the center portion of the over-all strainer device.

In this modification as well as in the aforedescribed modifications, the finger projections 90 and 100 are disposed substantially equidistantly to one another to provide the most effective gripping effect on the associated container. It will also be noted that the finger projections as seen in FIGS. 69 cooperate with the angular disposition of the side walls 76 of the container to cause the finger projections to fit up snugly and flat against the outer surfaces of the side walls which enhances the gripping effect when pressure is applied to the under side of the strainer device as aforedescribed which in fact causes the strainer device to grip the associated container even more tightly.

It will be noted that the angular relationship of the terminal end 105 of the finger projection 100 is such that when grasped between the fingers as aforesaid, force may be applied to this end of the strainer device so as to facilitate either mounting or releasing the strainer device. The position of the insulating portion 107 is such that the terminal end of finger projection 100 can be twisted in a counter clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 7, thereby tending to flatten out the over-all body member of the strainer device and to move the portions 102 and 103 in a counter clockwise direction so as to facilitate passing of the portions 102 and 103 over the upper edge of the wall 76 of the container.

It will be apparent that this twisting movement of the end of the strainer device will assist both in mounting and removing the strainer device since a considerable amount of twisting force may be applied to this end portion of the strainer device due to the novel positioning of the terminal end 105 and the insulating portion 107.

When mounted in operative position upon the associated container, each of the modifications according to the present invention is securely clamped in position and will not inadvertently fall off when the container is inverted. The strainer devices as shown permit free fluid flow from the container and yet effectively prevent large particles from leaving the container. In the modification shown in FIGS. 1-3, fluid may pass between the edge portion 25 of the main body portion of the adjacent rim portions of the container, and yet the space defined therebetween is small enough to prevent large particles from passing therethrough.

Since the finger projections extend substantially normally to the associated portions of the body member and define an acute angle of slightly less than with respect to the concave under surface of the strainer, they will generally extend downwardly and inwardly toward the container and will form particularly effective combination with a container having downwardly and inwardly tapered side walls such that the body member is prevented from falling off of the container even if it is turned completely upside down.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel strainer apparatus which is adapted to clamp upon the open end of a container and effectively permits fluids to be poured from the container, but prevents solids from leaving the container at such time. The device is adapted to fit about rim portions of varying sizes on different containers, and the device is securely locked in position so as not to fall off of the container during use. The device is very simple and inexpensive in construction and yet is sturdy and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Strainer apparatus comprising a body member formed of a single body of relatively thin resilient sheet material, said body member including a main body portion and a leg portion, said main body portion including a forward edge, a pair of side edges, and defining a major area of the over-all body member, said leg portion comprising a minor portion of the over-all area of the body member, said main body portion having a maximum width dimension between said side edges, said leg portion extending substantially normally from said maximum width dimension, said body member being substantially dome-shaped and defining a continuous arc from the forward edge of said main body portion to the rear portion of said leg portion and also defining a continuous are from one side edge to the other side edge of said main body portion thereby defining a body member having a concave under surface and a convex upper surface, said main body portion including a pair of spaced finger projections formed along the forward edge thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the concave under surface of said body member, the outer end portion of said leg portion including a depending finger projection extending downwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the concave under surface of the body member, said depending finger projection including an arcuate portion which joins with the terminal end portion which extends upwardly and outwardly at an obtuse angle to the adjacent rear end portion of the leg portion for facilitating grasping and manipulation of the strainer device, a plurality of straining openings in said main body portion, said main body portion including depending integral means formed along the forward edge thereof and extending downwardly from the concave under surface thereof to serve as spacer means to space the forward edge of the main body portion from an underlying upper edge of an associated container.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal end of the finger projection formed on the leg portion is provided with insulating material to protect the fingers of a user.

(References on following page) 9 References Cited by the Examiner 2,397,163 2,463,209 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1917 Link 210-469 812,156 9/1917 Shannan 210-469 5 372,800 10/1933 Devhn 210-469 756 501 4/1934 Claire 210-469 12/1935 Jones 220-60 10 3/1946 Serkes et a1 210-469 3/ 1949 Serkes 210-469 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1937 France. 4/ 1921 Germany. 9/ 1956 Great Britain.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

Dedication 3,240,348.Amh0ny W. Serz'o, Elmira, NY. STRAINER APPARATUS. Patent dated Mar. 15, 1966. Dedicut inn filed Sept. 28, 1970, by the assignee, Youngstown Steel Door Company. Hereby dedicates the entire term of said put ent to the Public.

[Oficz'nl Gazette January I9, 1971] 

1. STRAINER APPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER FORMED OF A SINGLE BODY OF RELATIVELY THIN RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL, SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION AND A LEG PORTION, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION INCLUDING A FORWARD EDGE, A PAIR OF SIDE EDGES, AND DEFINING A MAJOR AREA OF THE OVER-ALL BODY MEMBER, SAID LEG PORTION COMPRISING A MINOR PORTION OF THE OVER-ALL AREA OF THE BODY MEMBER, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION HAVING A MAXIMUM WIDTH DIMENSION BETWEEN SAID SIDE EDGES, SAID LEG PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMALLY FROM SAID MAXIMUM WIDTH DIMENSION, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DOME-SHAPED AND DEFINING A CONTINUOUS ARC FROM THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION OF THE REAR PORTION OF SAID LEG PORTION AND ALSO DEFINING A CONTINUOUS ARC FROM ONE SIDE EDGE TO THE OTHER SIDE EDGE OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION THEREBY DEFINING A BODY MEMBER HAVING A CONCAVE UNDER SURFACE AND A CONVEX UPPER SURFACE, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED FINGER PROJECTIONS FORMED ALONG THE FORWARD EDGE THEREOF AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE CONCAVE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER, THE OUTER END PORTION OF SAID LEG PORTION INCLUDING A DEPENDING FINGER PROJECTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE CONCAVE UNDER SURFACE OF THE BODY MEMBER, SAID DEPENDING FINGER PROJECTION INCLUDING AN ARCUATE PORTION WHICH JOINS WITH THE TERMINAL END PORTION WHICH EXTENDS UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE TO THE ADJACENT REAR END PORTION OF THE LEG PORTION FOR FACILITATING GRASPING AND MANIPULATION OF THE STRAINER DEVICE, A PLURALITY OF STRAINING OPENINGS IN SAID MAIN BODY PORTION, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION INCLUDING DEPENDING INTEGRAL MEANS FORMED ALONG THE FORWARD EDGE THEREOF AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE CONCAVE UNDER SURFACE THEREOF TO SERVE AS SPACER MEANS TO SPACE THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE MAIN BODY PORTION FROM AN UNDERLYING UPPER EDGE OF AN ASSOCIATED CONTAINER. 